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Aquamarine: The March Birthstone

Aquamarine: The March Birthstone's History and More

March is a busy month. With the end of the Winter months, it can mean a lot to many people. They are ready to get out and start the new year and new season. March is filled with celebration and an overall ecstatic feeling of NO MORE WINTER! Especially in and around the Chicagoland area. There is a celebration for everything: St. Patty's Day, the First Day of Spring, and for most Easter Sunday. One thing about March that Distinctive Gold Jewelry would not like to overlook, one of our favorite gemstones, Aquamarine.

With it's cool blue color and hue, it adds a crisp look to a new engagement ring, center stone of a beautiful pendant, or an accent to a bracelet or earrings. DGJ loves the Aquamarine for it's beauty and it’s natural 'typically' inclusion-free structure.

Background on Aquamarine

(Beware! There may be Technical Jargon ahead!)

Aquamarine's crystalline mineral construct helps to add to the beauty and durability of this stone. With clarity and less natural inclusions than most gemstones, it's mineral species of 'beryl' creates a clear structure to aid to this feature. Pure Beryl however is clear, but the addition of other minerals helps to add the colored hues. Aquamarine in it's truest form is the classic baby blue that we all know. But it also can be found in pink and greenish hues as well.

With Aquamarines, one thing we find in the jewelry industry to be true. The darker the hue, the prettier the stone, the more expensive the gem. This being that the darker and more rich, deeper blue gemstones are more expensive. This is especially true with the Aquamarine.

For bench jewelers and gem cutters, the Aquamarine can be especially tricky. The gemstone like March-born Chicagoans, are durable, and tough. With a hardness of 7.5 on the Mohs scale means that it is tough enough to be considered a choice for an pendant (although nothing has the durability of a diamond). Usual cuts of this birthstone is oval or emerald cut to enhance it's clarity and color.

It's durability adds an advantage to everyday wear and tear, as well as the maintenance that it needs. All gems need maintenance and if you are looking for a low maintenance center stone, you found one. To care for your stone, ultrasound cleaning and a steam bath is really all it needs when there are few to no inclusions. Otherwise a simple warm water bath and a light bristled toothbrush can do the same. Add some mild soap to enhance the cleaning and knock off any dust or grime.

Why Aquamarine for March?

Aquamarine has been known to represent a few things - purity of spirit and soul, or unity. Much like those that have March birthdays or the Zodiac sign of Pisces, it also can represents water or the sea, hence the name. The beautiful thing about Aquamarine, is that it is known to gleam and glitter even in minimal lighting; perfect to wear for an evening out at a restaurant in downtown Chicago or Frankfort.

For us, it's a fresh stone. Crisp. Light. Bright. Durable. Something that represents March really well. With the beginning of Spring and the 'wet' weather and atmosphere the blue hue of water that it represents fits well. Along with the durability of the stone and winter's end, those that make it through the cold and into March are durable as well.

Although most things in March are green, DGJ will be celebrating this month with the baby blue of the Aquamarine. Stop in to the store and ask any of us any questions you have on the stone. We have a few in stock if you would like to see some different pieces with the stone set in them.